97 Tips for Raising Labs
Following are approximately 97 questions readers of BigYellowDog.com submitted in recent years. They were answered by a licensed veterinarian on the site as a general service to all Lab owners. This information is for general reference only. Always consult your veterinarian for any questions about your Lab's health. We hope this information is somewhat helpful. At this time, we are not accepting any more questions.
Question
My dog is now approximately two years old, and when hunting she has a tendency to get too far away from me. I would rather not get a shock collar for her. Is their another way to get her to return when she is on the scent of something?
Answer
You need to work with your dog at close range on a six-foot lead. Always give your dog praise and/or treats when coming right to you when called. Start working your dog further and further distances from you. You may need to use a light line (clothes line) for the dog to drag to be able to reel your dog in when he is not paying attention as you want him to. The drag line is only a temporary tool to train your dog. Spend lots of time getting your dog to watch your face for commands. Always make commands firm, but happy. The recall is one of the hardest commands to train but with time and patience it is one of the most important. It can save your dog's life!
